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E. Guigal - St. Joseph Vignes de l'Hospice - Red 2015
- Producer E. Guigal
- Country France
- Region Rhone Valley
- Appellation Saint-Joseph
- UPC 0 15643 42820 3
Vintage
From a vintage nearly as perfect as you could get, from vine dormancy right through harvest, the wines are spellbinding. Considered among the top vintages of the last 20+ years, these wines will be highly
sought after. The 2015 vintage started well before the first bud-break. Replenishing rain in the winter restored the water tables to supply the plants with nutrients while abundant sunshine and warmth helped the vine mature the berries to perfection as the generous diurnal shift maintained the acidity and freshness of the fruit.
Estate
The firm of E. Guigal, located in Ampuis, was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal. Since 1961 his son Marcel has led the estate, and his unparalleled work ethic and dedication to quality have brought attention to Cote-Rotie and other appellations throughout the Rhone that were in danger of being lost, and lifted the Guigal wines to the pinnacle of the wine world. Today, Marcel’s son Philippe serves as Director and Oenologist, continuing the tradition of leadership in the Rhone Valley and uncompromising excellence.
Vineyard
This steeply terraced vineyard was in the recent past divided into three, which Guigal now owns through the purchase of the De Vallouit and Grippat domaines, and the sale by the local hospice of their vineyard to Guigal. It was Guigal’s work in preserving the walls of the vineyard, a never-ending and costly labor of love, that in fact led the hospice to ask Guigal to take over their vineyard and carry on the history and tradition.
Vinification
Guigal vinifies this 100% Syrah wine in the same fashion as their Cote Roties crus and Ermitage Ex-Voto. After fermentation, it is aged for 30 months in 100% new barrels, clarified by racking only, and bottled unfiltered. Guigal is often asked when they will produce a fourth “LaLa”, and their response is that their fourth single vineyard phenomenon of the Northern Rhone is already being produced: the Vignes de l'Hospice.